SCHOOLTEACHERS AND UNIONISM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 301, 14 September 1920, Page 4

SCHOOLTEACHERS AND UNIONISM

MOVE FOR. BETTER CONDITIONS PLAIN TALK AT INSTITUTE MEETING FORMING OF UNION FAVOURED

Definite action- in the matter of oblining better salaries and conditions for je teaching profession was taken last veiling by tho Wellington branch of the Zealand Educational Institute, when resolution* was passed urging on the nnual conierence of the N.Z.E.I. that le Educational Institute be registered nder the terms cf the Arbitration and .'oiiciliation Act of New Zealand. Tho leeting was largely attended. In urging on the meeting the necessity or the forming of a union, Mr. W. H. j Poster said tlmt he recognised it fould be given the support 01 all the eacliers in the Dominion. It had been aid in tho past that the executive of he N.Z.E.I. had had 110 "punch." This ras to be remedied. He wished it to te clearly understood that the suggested ncrging of the institute into a union lid not carry with it any threat of a itrike. The merging was by no meana :o that end; but it would give the initituto definite status and power. Neither lid the. resolution proposed carry any eflection on the 'Minister of Education, lie Department, or the Executive. Proent injustices dated back to the faulty iducational systems of the Old World. By no means should the motion bo taken is indicative' of a secession move. For lie protection of teachers generally, UlB .listitute should be registered as a union 'Teachers have real grievances," said Mr. Poster. "It is idle to say they have lot. They are dissatisfied with conditions of employment, the main causes 'or discontent 'being the discrepancy of superannuation allowance as compared n-ith the Public Service-the Public Service allowance being computed 011 the three 'best years, and the allowance for eacliers on the last three years; tho basis of payment 011 the average attendmco at schools—a system which is rot; ten to the core; and the cost of transfer. System Criticised. Mr Foster severely criticised the system of average attendance payment, regarding it as a system that would not bear investigation. Members of no other service were paid, he thought, relatively . to tho amount of material going through their hands. He referred to the watertight compartment" of the service, and snoke'of the recent advertisements asking for cadets for tho Public Service. In that service boys' could commence at .£lO5 per annum, and.could command a year in ten vcars. He complained ot the salaries of the teaching service, remarking that there was no increase of G.i per cent, granted in that sen ice "Whatever salaries we receive now, .no added, "have not- the same purchasm power of those received during the pie- * Complaint was made by the speaker that the teaching profession were not on an equal footing of the Public Service, leachers all over the world, he said, were a sweated piofession. He, reiterated the statement that teachers had not grievances against the present administration. The, present position of the teaching profession was duo to the conditions years ago, when tho school was but a dependency of the Church, and the teacher a mere understrapper of the clergy The State, taking ever the schools, lad held to that idea. Wo are not taken into the confidenco. of the Department, said Mr. Foster. "Wo never hear anything ot matters regarding salaries. Trades unions and other Civil Sen-ire Departments are in a different position." Aiding the Cause. ■ In conclusion, he fiaid that in his opinion tho union being formed would enable the teachc-rs as a whole to formulate demands, to .cite employers, and to have their case considered by an outside and independent organisation. Preference would then be given unionists, and the numerical and financial the teachers' body would be assured. "Where conciliation fails, and suggestions prove inadequate," 110 added, "then tho Arbitration Court can bo used, and demands presented. I again emphasise the fact that the move does not mean secession from tiio institute. Irstead of disruption, it will mean unification, and^ the making stronger of the organisation." In seconding tie motion, Mr. J. Thomas referred to a similar movement which had taken rlace many years ago, but which had not been supported, as it was thought "infra o.ig." Dignity had not helped tho leachers, and it was time for action. , , ~ Mr. A. C. Blake thought that although the idea of unionism was distasteful to many tcachers, the fact remained that they" had lost faith in those who should have looked to their interests in the past. Mr. F. A. Hempleman thoupnt that there would be no support It. the average attendance basis of payment were the demands of the profession placed before an outside tribunal. > "The system of drawing up teachers salaries in camera is not, acceptable to us," said Mr. Blake, continuing. Tho executive should have power to place what teachers consider reasonable before the Department, or the executivo should possess a right of consultation before tho Department's proposals- are placed before Parliament." , , , ■Reference to tho promise made by the Minister that the new scale of salanes would eomnare favourably with those mid in America, was made ,by Messrs. Bennett and Leslie, who were dubious w-hcHior that would bring satisfaction. Teachers in the United States of, America were living up the profession in hundreds. There would be no loss of dignitv in becoming unionists. A lady member. Miss Finlaysoß, also supported the piolion. Opposition Expressed. Opposition to the proposal was expressed by Mr. A. Ballachev, saying he was surprised to 6ee the senior headmator leading the movement. He objected to preference to unionists, intimating that the idea of compulsion was distasteTho chairman, Mr. C. N. Haslam, expressed surprise nt tho hurrv wun which the motion had been .brought, thero being every evidence that the Minister was sincero in his eftorts to better tho conditions under which teachers worked. lie foresaw disruption in the movement, and considered it should hine originated from other than tho senior headmaster. , ' , . In reply, Mr. Foster stated he did not think tcachers would afliliate with the Trades and Labour Council 6implj because thev had formed a union. He Md other'headmasters, had always voiced the interests of 31111101* and inrty members of their staffs. ... Ho lc . ~ believe that the merging of tho insli tutc into a union would tend in any way towards disruption. The motion, being then put, was carried with only three dissentients, a few votes not being registered'! J 1 ™ 1 JViU ** sont to the conference of the A./j.L.I. as a remit.'